Kalimera! (Good morning) we are happy to host you for another day in Athens. Our suggested itinerary for Day 3 takes you to the modern, yet grassroots neighborhoods of Gazi, Psirri, Theseion and Kerameikos, three of the most industrial, hip and artsy parts of town where Athenians and travel-savvy visitors choose to hang out. Centered around Technopolis, (the original gas works plant in Athens) Gazi, which means gas in Greek, fuels artists' inspiration as is apparent by the areas' many galleries, lofts, ethnic and contemporary restaurants, cafés and bars. Day 3 also includes a visit to the largest and busiest outdoor marketplace in Athens where butchers and sellers of produce compete for your attention by displaying fresh fish, meat, vegetables, herbs and spices and calling out their competitive prices.

Please note: Another option to think about on Day 3 in Athens is a visit to the world's most digitally-advanced planetarium. The Eugenides New Digital Planetarium is the largest and best-equipped digital planetarium in the world with a dome measuring 25 meters (85 feet) in diameter with an area of 950 square meters or 3,000 feet! Located in the nearby municipality of Palio Faliro, it is easily accessible by bus or tram and is approximately 20 minutes from the center of Athens.

Take The Athens Sightseeing Public Bus Line No. 400 to Kerameikos, site of the ancient burial grounds (6th century B.C.) and ancient potters' district on the banks of the Iridanos River. Stop off at the Kerameikos Museum to view artifacts found at one of the most ancient burial sites dating from as early as the 11th century B.C. through to the early Christian period. The nearby Center for the Study of Contemporary Pottery offers an insight into ceramic production with its extensive collection of books, pottery, folk art and archival photographs and audiovisual material on the art of producing ceramic objects. Walk to Koumoundourou Square to see Athens' Chinatown, another recent addition to the urbanized landscape of the Athens of today. In fact, a walk throughout these vibrant haunts is a cultural phenomenon and window into the evolution of many peoples who have traditionally migrated to this area of Athens and their surrounding environs. This evolution is most apparent along Pireos Street. Built during the reign of King Otto, it was Athens' first carriage road linking Athens to the port of Piraeus. Today, the thoroughfare is home to many new cultural centers and large Greek nightclubs housed in large refurbished former factories and manufacturing plants. The street, bordering some of the most ancient and industrial neighborhoods, is considered a significant symbol of the transformation of the modern Athenian landscape and has lead to the establishment of many eateries and galleries in the area.

A modern take on Athens would not be complete without a visit to the district of Gazi. Extending between Pireos and Konstantinoupoleos Streets, it is trademarked by the towering power plant of Technopolis (City of the Arts) of the City of Athens. The former power plant has been transformed into a cutting-edge and contemporary cultural complex with an industrial aura, covering 30 acres. The buildings have kept many original materials and structures of the plant and incorporated them into the design. Technopolis is an off the beaten path yet a highly regarded industrial museum experience as is evident by many esteemed art and cultural exhibitions held there throughout the year. Take a walk around the surrounding area for a peek into this lively community: home to many immigrants and minorities, a mini-mosaic of people that offers a modern, multi-dimensional flavor to Athens today.

Further down along Pireos Street is one of the most recent additions to the contemporary European art landscape, The New Benaki Museum building. The building's design of red stone made its groundbreaking debut in 2004 and has already had an impact on the changing demographics of the area. "The great red box", as it is often referred to, hosts an archive, art gallery, bookshop and restaurant. Make some time for a visit to the Foundation of the Hellenic World, a non-profit cultural institution that presents the history of Greece through 3-Dimensional and other digital forms of interactive exhibitions and programs. Virtual reality-driven, Ark and Magic Screen systems are impressive and successfully use technology to take you back to ancient Greece.

Have lunch in Psirri or Theseion which are next in our tour of 21st century modern Athens. The National Observatory of Athens is here, as are tiny weaving paths blossoming with tastefully designed outdoor cafés and restaurants; each one unique in its presentation of Greek or ethnic food. Less populated side streets along the main Karaiskaki Street have maintained their old world charm of small tenement buildings and shops. Another characteristic of Psirri is its many churches including Agios Dimitrios, Agioi Anargiroi and Agia Paraskevi (on Agion Anargiron Street), Agios Athanasios (Aristophanous Street) and several others. Walking among Psirri's alleys you will discover many. Take Athinas Street to one of Europe's largest outdoor markets, the Varvakeios Agora where the pavement is stocked with carts and basins filled with fresh fish, produce, spices and raw meat displays, as vendors try to catch your attention by voicing their competitive prices. Intersecting Athinas is Evripidou Street brimming with all varieties of spices and herbs, sponges, nautical lamps, jugs, and traditional Greek tin coffee makers and brikis. You may choose to walk to Omonia Square and take the bus or metro back to Syntagma Square or take The Athens Sightseeing Public Bus Line No. 400 directly from the market.

Please note: The Gazi, Psirri and Theseion districts on Friday and Saturday nights are packed with Athenians who fill the areas' bars, clubs and restaurants until the morning hours, only to return on Sunday afternoons for a shot of ouzo and hot zucchini-filled meatballs and grilled delectable graviera cheese. Enjoy!